Michael Bennett

ForgeRock is a leading player in the customer identity and access management (CIAM) space. ForgeRock listed on the NYSE in September 2021, was taken private by Thoma Bravo in August 2023 for $2.3BN and merged with Ping Identity.

• Reviewed and assessed financial tech stack and proposed and then implemented systems for planned IPO, including new ERP (NetSuite), Workiva, FloQast, Equity Edge Online
• Implemented new processes appropriate for public company, including SOX process
• Championed the use of AI, including predictive analytics and optimisation (Tipalti)
• Adopted the latest emerging reporting technologies (Insightsoftware)
• Played key role in ongoing tech stack design, reevaluation and optimization to keep pace with company growth
• Drove a culture of change, automation and innovation throughout the business

Equinix is the world’s largest data center and colocation provider with over 200 data centers in over 50 markets on five continents. Equinix is quoted on the NASDAQ (ticker symbol: EQIX) and has a market capitalization of approximately seventy billion dollars.

• My role was to drive innovative solutions through evaluation of tools and technologies that allowed the Finance organisation to scale and achieve a more efficient monthly close process without adding significant costs
• The mandate was to leverage technology to enable optimization and automation of processes
• Key accomplishment was deployment and subsequent upgrade of Cadency, a transformative modular solution that weaves all Record to Report activities into a single, seamless process using Risk Intelligent RPA
• This was achieved through influencing key stakeholders while managing expectations
• Cadency implementation reduced monthly close cycle by 2 days and saved on audit fees through business rules that allowed bulk reconciliation, real time visibility into the status of the reconciliation process, prioritization of work based on risk, standardization through global templates and integration with SOX controls
• Outlined system inter-dependencies including documentation of process and architecture diagrams for current process and new ReconNET solution
• Utilised Visio process flow to develop desktop procedures and policy documents for A/R and A/P.

• Led implementation of financial software designed to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency through automation – ReconNET, Cadency Close and Certification, Blue Prism platform
• Project managed ReconNET go-live
• ReconNET is a high-volume matching tool which we deployed as a replacement for a combination of Oracle Cash Management and Excel spreadsheets; resulting in matching 95% of bank recs without human intervention using mapping and business rules, and targeted investigation of recs that did not auto-reconcile
• Led regional finance reporting for multi-year REIT conversion project by defining and implementing structural and process changes to deliver highly efficient reports at lower cost
• Involved throughout software development cycle, from requirements gathering through development, UAT and deployment into PROD
• Identified and deployed cost-effective solution that allowed real time interrogation of financial data with drill through capability to original source data, thereby facilitating improved close process
• Led global training for Hyperion, OBIEE and Cadency and key team member on Oracle R12, OBIEE 12C and Hyperion (11.1.2.5) upgrades.

• Identified deficiencies in existing Hyperion solution and implemented solution through system upgrade, streamlining the number of cubes, improved security, 80% reduction in refresh time, use of data forms, etc
• Managed, trained and developed the Financial Planning and Analysis team and ensured team delivered high quality and reliable information to the business
• Managed monthly reporting process plus budgeting and forecasting process, President’s Deck, Audit Deck and 10 Year Plan.

S1 was a leading financial services software company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. S1 was listed on the NASDAQ prior to being acquired by ACI Worldwide in September 2011 for approximately five hundred million dollars.

• Prepared annual budget and monthly reforecast using Hyperion Essbase for four separate international divisions (Large Financial, Europe, Middle East and Australia)
• Reviewed all major contracts and ensured proper revenue recognition in accordance with US GAAP
• Improved organisational efficiency through implementation of new timekeeping system which resulted in more accurate recordkeeping
• Regional lead for line of business carveout for possible sale to third party.

Glu Mobile, Inc. engages in the creation, development, and publication of mobile games and other mobile entertainment applications. Glu is headquartered in San Francisco, California and was quoted on the NASDAQ until acquired by Electronic Arts.

• Responsible for EMEA, APAC and LATAM revenue assurance and billing integrity by managing, developing, and coaching revenue team
• Ensured Order to Cash Cycle was managed consistently, accurately and timely
• Assisted Sales Director and Territory Managers in contract negotiation and developing revenue models
• Led client-facing efforts aimed at improving overall revenue cycle including contracts and issue resolution
• Successfully recouped $2 million dollars in revenue leakage from telco operators.

• Responsible for EMEA management reporting
• Developed and implemented Essbase and Oracle-based reports to provide senior management with timely and accurate information.

• Led EMEA financial planning and analysis by preparing monthly Board packages and weekly management reporting (executive summary, KPIs, sales pipeline, P&L, cash flow, new title evaluation, etc)
• Identified and analyzed key business trends and issues, which resulted in improved forecasting accuracy
• Supported and coached FP&A Manager with revenue planning and forecasting.

S1 was a leading financial services software company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. S1 was listed on the NASDAQ prior to being acquired by ACI Worldwide in September 2011 for approximately five hundred million dollars.

• Prepared annual budget and monthly reforecast using Hyperion Essbase for four separate international divisions (Large Financial, Europe, Middle East and Australia).

• Reviewed all major contracts and ensured proper revenue recognition in accordance with US GAAP. • Improved organisational efficiency through implementation of new timekeeping system which resulted in timelier and more accurate recordkeeping.

• Regional lead for line of business carveout for possible sale to third party.

• Finance lead on Hyperion Planning implementation project. Involved in vendor selection, outlined functionality requirements, migrated data and tested reports that resulted in the automation of the planning process.
• Research and analyze key business drivers, trends and operating metrics. Focus on long range strategic planning process. Assumed a lead role in developing and publishing management reporting.
• Participation in cross-functional business projects and analysis. Member of cross-functional team tasked with developing a new product-pricing model. Developed automated pricing engine for use by sales directors as an analytical tool.